Do you feel free to make your house truly your own? Do you decorate in ways that make you happy, reflect who you are, and bring you joy? Many people get stuck when it comes to making decorating decisions for their home.
We often worry about what others will think—especially now that social media and platforms like Instagram influence what’s considered popular. We may also worry about how a particular change could affect a future sale, even when we have no immediate plans to move. Sometimes the fear of making a costly mistake keeps us from choosing what our heart truly wants.
Your home should be the place where you feel most comfortable and free to surround yourself with what you love. Even if you rent or plan to stay somewhere only briefly, there are plenty of ways to personalize your space and make it feel like yours.
Photographer: Laurey W. Glenn; Stylist: Liz Strong
There are countless ways to make a house feel personal: changing architectural details, adding or swapping accessories, adjusting colors, redefining the style, rearranging furniture, improving organization, or updating lighting and rugs. Small changes often make a big difference.
A practical guideline I use when decorating: if a decision feels particularly risky because a mistake would cost thousands to fix or would strain your budget, consider consulting a trusted professional or designer first. Getting an expert opinion or giving yourself more time to think can help you avoid a costly misstep. Don’t rush the big, expensive choices.
For everything else, don’t overthink it. Choose what you love. Let your personality show. Be willing to do something unexpected. You don’t need to put a room together the same way everyone else does. If a piece isn’t your absolute favorite, blend it into the room so it doesn’t stand out.
More often than not, you can learn to love the room as a whole despite a few design missteps or quirks the space may have. Embracing the imperfect can actually make a home feel more charming and lived in. Perfection isn’t the goal—comfort and joy are.
If you want ongoing support and inspiration, consider joining HomeBody Gathering Place for weekly Home Therapy sessions and access to six e-zine style decorating guides based on my Room Recipe Decorating Method. I’m available there to answer questions and help guide your choices.
More Posts on The Inspired Room:
Serendipity and Dream Home Dwellers
How to Decorate: The Slow Process to a Style You’ll Love
14 Ways to Get Out of a Decorating Slump
25 Ways to Restyle Your Home
10 Easy Ways to Redecorate Your Home for Free
How to Create Continuity in Your Style
Find more encouragement and decorating advice in my books:
- Love the Home You Have (NY Times Bestseller!)
- The Inspired Room (hardback photo book)
- Make Room for What You Love
- The Inspired Room Coloring Book
- Simple Decorating
- Simple Gatherings
- Simple Organizing
- But Where Do I Put the Couch? And Answers to 100 Other Home Decorating Questions